CROCK POT VEGGIE SOUP RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, heat the one tablespoon of the olive oil over medium high heat.
• Add the onion and cook till nearly translucent.
• Now add the garlic. Don't let the garlic brown and saute another couple of minutes.
• Add the rest of the chopped veggies, sauteing for just a minute or two; the extra tablespoon of olive oil is if you need it for the rest of the veggies. Remember--you're not cooking them-- just sauteing them for the wonderful flavor this quick step will infuse in your soup.
• Add the thyme and salt and pepper while sauteing.
• Now put the veggies in the crock pot, add the tomatoes and broth.
• Cook on low 7-9 hours (depending on your crock pot) or high 4-6 hours.
• Just before serving, gently mash some of the potato chunks against the side of the crock pot to thicken the soup, give it a stir and serve.
• SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Grilled cheese sandwiches on whole grain bread and a spinach salad.
• Quick Fixes for Variations on the Basic Veggie Soup: Now remember, don't do these to the whole pot of soup! Just the little bit you pull out to fix yourself for lunch, etc. so that you can do all the Quick Fixes.
• Quick Fix #1: Tex Mex Veggie Soup. Add some (eyeball it--how much do you want?) canned black beans (drained and rinsed), a little bit of cumin and chopped cilantro. Top with some tortilla chips and cheese, or serve with a quesadilla.
• Quick Fix #2: Tuscan Veggie Soup. Add some (eyeball it again) canned cannellini (white kidney beans) or white beans (drained and rinse), a little bit of Italian seasoning and some chopped kale. Cook till heated through and the kale is tender.
• Quick Fix #3: Minestrone Veggie Soup. Add some cooked pasta, a little dried basil and top with a fresh grating of Parmesan cheese.
• Quick Fix #4: Autumn Veggie Soup. Add some diced acorn squash or butternut squash, a handful of cooked brown rice, a sprinkling of nutmeg and some chopped parsley.

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat, then add the oil, celery, carrots and onions; cook 5 to 6 minutes, or until golden.
• Add to slow cooker.
• Pour the juice of the tomatoes into the slow cooker, then roughly crush the tomatoes with your hands; add to slow cooker.
• Then add chicken (or vegetable broth), the cheese rind (if using) thyme, basil, and bay leaf.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours, until the vegetables get soft and the flavors blend.
• Remove the cheese rid and, using an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth (or you can carefully do this in small batches in the blender).
• Melt the butter over low heat in a large skillet and add the flour.
• Stir constantly with a whisk for 4 to 5 minutes.
• Slowly whisk in about 1 cup of the hot soup, then add the 1 3/4 cups of warmed milk and stir until smooth.
• Pour back into the slow cooker and stir, add the grated Pecorino cheese and adjust salt and pepper, to taste.
• Cover and cook on low 30 more minutes.